Headlines From Our Twitter Feed

Monday, December 10, 2018

ARREST WARRANT SOUGHT FOR PEDOPHILE TEACHER

The federal probations office has asked the Department of Justice to issue an arrest warrant for former teacher Yaira Cotto Flores, who earlier this year was found guilty of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old student in 2016. She began communicating online with the student in 2015, and early the following year took him to a motel, where they had intercourse.

Cotto Flores was due to turn herself in to the federal Bureau of Prisons today so that she could start serving her 10-year prison sentence in Alabama, which would be followed by 8 years of probation. The teacher has failed to turn herself in on more than one occasion, and according to her husband, she has been seeking mental health treatment.

ROSSELLO NOT SAYING HOW HE'S PAYING FOR BONUS

"Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares said that the Christmas bonus to public employees will not threaten the government payroll spend during the last months of the fiscal year. However, the governor offered little or no information regarding the "savings" that his administration reached to offset this $ 85.3 million disbursement..."

NO PROBABLE CAUSE AGAINST WANDA VAZQUEZ

"In an unprecedented process, First Instance Court Judge Yazdel Ramos late Friday dismissed all three charges presented by the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel (PFEI, its Spanish acronym) against Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez, indicating the evidence presented did not show probable cause for arrest..."

PR HOUSE TO REQUEST JONES ACT EXEMPTION

"Puerto Rico Rep. José Aponte Hernández will ask the new U.S. Congress to study a request made this weekend by the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), that Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska be permanently exempted from the cabotage law known as the Jones Act..."

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

The Puerto Rico Monitor endorses the following candidates in today's election:

Andrew Gillum for FL GovernorBill Nelson for FL US SenateStacey Abrams for GA GovernorBeto O' Rourke for TX US SenateJanna Lynn Sanchez for TX US HouseAlexandra Ocasio Cortez for NY US HouseJulia Salazar for NY State Senate

Thursday, July 5, 2018

TROPICAL STORM BERYL FORMS

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Two has now become Tropical Storm Beryl, the second tropical storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the NHC's 2:30 PM AST update, the system reached maximum sustained winds of 40 mph early this afternoon, putting it in tropical storm status. As of this morning, the storm was expected to dissipate east of the Lesser Antilles sometime early next week. Keep checking this website and our Twitter feed for any changes in the storm's status or forecast track. No watches or warnings have been issued so far. The latest stats on Beryl as of 3:45 PM AST are:

SENATE REJECTS REPEALING LAW 80

"Not even 24 hours after Rosselló called for an extraordinary session, the Senate rejected, for the third time, the bill that would repeal the compensation for unjustified dismissal act (Law 80-1976), and that would have allowed the Government to comply with the agreement reached with the Oversight Board..."

PR GOVT TO CHALLENGE BOARD'S BUDGET IN COURT

"In a statement issued by his office, La Fortaleza, Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced Thursday that “the Government of Puerto Rico” was asking the court to “defend” the budget approved by the island’s legislature, which he signed, and decide whether it or the budget certified by the island’s fiscal oversight board should be implemented..."

PARTS OF EL YUNQUE FOREST TO REOPEN FOR SUMMER

"[Forest Service Interim Chief Vicki Christiansen]...announced that another area in the forest, Yokahu Tower, was to reopen to the public on July 4. In addition to Yokahu Tower, La Coca Falls along PR-191 and the Puente Roto and Angelito trails on road PR-988 are the few forest attractions available for visitors at this time..."

MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN CIDRA HOUSE

A still unidentified male was shot to death shortly after 2:00 AM today in the mountain town of Cidra. Local police were alerted to the shooting by a phone call, and upon arriving at the residence on Girasol Street, in the Campo Bello sector, found the bullet-riddled body of the victim inside his house. Caguas homicide detectives are investigating.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

PUERTO RICAN SOCIALIST HEADED TO CONGRESS?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Tuesday night victory over congressman Joe Crowley in the Democratic Party primary election for New York's 14th House District puts the young victor of Puerto Rican descent within striking distance of becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Ocasio-Cortez, who was outspent by Crowley during the campaign by a ratio of 10 to 1, has espoused democratic socialist ideas and was able to garner strong grassroots support in the 14th district, which includes parts of The Bronx and Queens. As her congressional district is solidly Democratic, Ocasio-Cortez is the favorite to win the seat in November's general election.

MAN SHOT TO DEATH FOUND IN OROCOVIS

As reported by El Vocero, a murder was reported shortly before 10 PM last night on road PR-156, in the Las Marianas sector of the mountain town of Orocovis. A 911 call alerted police to the shooting, and upon arriving, they found the body of 35 year old Edwin López Rosario, who was a local resident. The victim had been shot several times in different parts of his body.

NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS DROPS BY OVER 12K

"In one year, the number of public servants in Puerto Rico was reduced by 12,033 workers, according to the most recent Registry of Occupied Positions prepared by the Office of the Comptroller. This figure represents a 6 percent decrease in the government's workforce..."

LAW 80 FIGHT CONTINUES BETWEEN GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE

"Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said Thursday that dialogue over the repeal of Act 80 of 1976–on compensation for dismissals without just cause–remains open. “I want to reach a resolution that benefits the people of Puerto Rico. And I will use all the mechanisms that are available: Call for an extraordinary session, dialogue or whatever to be able to find a solution that can comply with the agreement [with the island’s fiscal oversight board]. I hope all colleagues are willing to have that conversation,” the governor told the media..."

TRANSPORTATION DEPT TO OFFER SERVICES THROUGH APP

"The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation has launched the CESCO Digital Mobile application to enable users to conduct transactions that until Monday could only be done in person at Driver Services Centers (CESCO,) the Treasury Department or via complicated websites. The tool was developed by students from the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló confirmed upon unveiling the new mobile technology..."

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES: MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN CAROLINA

As reported by El Vocero, a man was found shot to death early Tuesday morning on 73rd Street in the Villa Carolina neighborhood of the municipality of Carolina. The victim -- who remains unidentified -- was described as being dark-skinned, about 5 feet, nine inches tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds. He was dressed in a black shirt, red and white pants and black athletic shoes. An anonymous 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunshots in the area shortly after midnight. Police are investigating.

ROSSELLO AND BOARD DEFEND LABOR CHANGES

"Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares rejected yesterday that the repeal of the Unjust Dismissal Act (Law 80-1976) would leave the island´s working class in a vulnerable position, especially women and senior employees, because there are other labor laws to protect them..."

PREPA BUDGET FACES FIVE YEARS OF SHORTFALLS

"The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said Friday that the approved fiscal-recovery plan for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) faces billions in financial risks that will hinder the transformation of the grid..."

Sunday, February 11, 2018

BREAKING:

POWER OUT ACROSS NORTHERN PR

FIRE AT MONACILLOS STATION LEAVES THOUSANDS IN THE DARK

Photo: John Mudd, via Twitter.

Many parts of northern Puerto Rico, including large swaths of the San Juan metro area, were plunged into darkness on Sunday night, seemingly due to a fire at the Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica's Monacillos substation in Río Piedras. The failure at Monacillos may have created a domino effect which knocked other substations out of service. Per AEE, the San Juan and Palo Seco power plants are currently offline.

According to both El Nuevo Día and power utility customers on social media, sectors of the following municipalities have been affected: San Juan, Carolina, Trujillo Alto, Guaynabo, Caguas, Camuy, Hatillo, Manatí, Arecibo, Río Grande, Barceloneta and Luquillo. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown. AEE sources have stated that it could take as long as 16 hours for power to return to most of the affected areas. Follow our Twitter feed for the latest.

ROSSELLO AND GONZALEZ ANNOUNCE RECOVERY FUNDS

"Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, along with Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González announced an allocation of $16 billion in federal funds for the island’s recovery after Hurricane Maria. This appropriation is part of budget legislation approved by Congress and signed Friday by President Donald Trump..."

MALL OF SAN JUAN TO MAKE $10M FOR 2018

"Taubman Centers Inc., owners and operators of The Mall of San Juan, anticipated Friday that they will generate $10 million of net operating income (NOI) from that asset in 2018, some of which may come from sources other than sales activities..."

PR SENDS ATHLETE TO WINTER OLYMPICS

"Carrying Puerto Rico’s flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea, Flaherty beamed as the first representative for Puerto Rico at the Games since 1998, when it sent another alpine skier and two-man and four-man bobsled teams to Nagano, Japan."

Thursday, December 21, 2017

WHITE HOUSE SAYS TAX BILL WON'T HURT PR

"Sweeping tax code changes aimed at keeping U.S. companies from shifting profits offshore to avoid taxes will not affect the battered economy of Puerto Rico, a senior White House official said on Wednesday. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló has said the provisions in a new tax bill passed by Congress could prompt drug and medical device manufacturers to leave the island territory, which is considered a foreign jurisdiction for tax purposes..."

FEMA: MORE THAN $870 MILLION GIVEN TO STORM SURVIVORS

"More than $870 million in federal funds has been provided to Puerto Rico survivors of Hurricanes Irma and María, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. This includes money paid out in FEMA grants, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans and National Flood Insurance Policy claims..."

STRANDED ANIMALS RESCUED FROM PUERTO RICO

"It was a happy day in Westhampton Sunday as 130 animals landed safely after being rescued from Puerto Rico. The rescue mission was conducted by the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. "This is our biggest rescue to date," ARF representatives said..."